Biomimetics

Biomimetics

Insects are a rich source of inspiration for engineers developing innovative new materials. Many, including moths and butterflies, have anti-reflective eyes that enable them to see in low light. Some have iridescent wings for camouflage and signalling, such as the wing covers of metallic-like beetles.
‘We’ve found for the first time ever that we can not only make the iridescent structures found in nature with conventional engineering, but we can also culture cells to make them for us,’ said Professor Andrew Parker, zoologist at the Natural History Museum, and lead researcher. ‘So rather than developing complicated and expensive engineering techniques, we can let nature do the hard work.’

Tuesday 24 July 2007 06.11 EDT
First published on Tuesday 24 July 2007 06.11 EDT

Male and female Morpho butterflies. Human-made replicas of the optical structures found in iridescent blue Morpho butterfly wings (used as an antenna or anti-reflection coating for radar) are 1,000 times the size of their natural counterparts

High magnification image of the scales on a Blue Morpho butterfly's wing. Current work focuses on butterfly scales by identifying the cells in chrysalises that later develop to produce scales in adults, dissecting them and separating them in the lab.

Scanning Electron Micrograph of a diatom. These are the single-celled organisms used to make nanostructures. By using single-celled organisms such as diatoms and viruses, these newly developed special surfaces could be produced by the tonne.

A gecko clinging to mussel shell. Geckos and mussels are being used to make an underwater adhesive. Geckel adhesive combines the wet adhesive properties of mussel adhesive proteins with the dry adhesive strategy of the gecko